I am Mark David, I have attended numerous English classes and creative writing courses, and eventually I am hoping to pass one of them. In the meantime, I am working very hard on learning to write, then I plan to learn how to read and if I’m still alive I will figure out how to spell. Recently I was told that my submission showed a great deal of imagination and creativity. Unfortunately, that was the IRS Auditor reviewing my tax return.
M. David Lutz
Just for Laughs
"Writing is easy . . . Writing Good Ain't"
Why did I choose to be a writer? I would have to say ‘writing’ chose me. These days, there are only a billion books waiting to be read, and without a major publisher backing my work, I have as much chance of becoming a widely read author as I would have of being chosen as a Chippendale dancer.
Without a huge following or any monetary success that goes with it, the question must be asked again, ‘Why write?’ Being retired gives me something to do all day and keeps me out of my wife’s hair. She is very supportive, explaining that whether I write or sit and watch TV all day makes no difference financially. I might as well write books that no one will ever read.
I do not want you to think that writing is a lonely, tedious effort of creativity, which it is, but speaking for myself, my biggest fan, there are times when something flows from my pen that astounds even me. You read all the writing guides demanding you plan and prepare before writing. I have never done that in my life; why should I do that with my writing? I sincerely advocate that writing should be like regurgitating. I take a lot of stuff in, and then I take pen in hand and see what comes up, plopping it down on paper.
True, it does not make my writing sound very appetizing, but that is only the beginning. The key is to get it out on paper to see what you are dealing with. Then, with much more effort, editing, cutting, pasting, and rearranging, thoughts hopefully coalesce into something of a ‘hot’ mess. Then I generally put it on a shelf to ferment and read it later. At my age, with ‘short-term memory’, as I’m reading, I quickly determine whether it is very good and makes me laugh, or I think it is ‘crap,’ and the writer is an idiot. The next thing I ask is,’ Who wrote this?’ and ‘Am I wearing pants?’
When I realize I am the author, I am ready to finish it or throw it in the trash. Some would suggest I throw everything I write into the garbage. Obviously, they’re not fans, and I am okay with that.
I will leave you with the most important advice when writing: Write what pleases you—because probably you will be the only one who will ever read it.
M. David Lutz
Just for Laughs
 | ||||
